Upholstery-filling device



Patented Apr. 10, 1928".

UNITED STATES CHRISTOPHER F. CODA, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

UPHOLSTERY-FILLING DEVICE.

Application filed March 10, 1927. Serial No. 174,139.

The present invention pertains to a illing or loading tool designed for the purpose of inserting cotton batts or other iilling inatcrial into tubular envelopes constituting elements of a fabric case to be upholstered.

The invention relates particularly to the type of tool Which, While containing the stufling material, is entered into one end of the envelope and projected to the other end Where the stufiing material gripped and the tool Withdraivn. rEhe principal object of the invention is to construct a tool of this nature in substantially one piece without sacrificing any of the advantages of the prior devices of this class.

The article constructed according to the invention comprises abody consisting of a single sheetI of metal bent into a substantially tubular shape and having its edges spaced to permit contraction so that one end thereof may be pressed or squeezed into a size sufliciently small for easy entrance into the envelope. The edges of the metal de'tinng the space may be blunted or finished in any suitable fashion in order not to present a sharp or cutting edge to the material 'Within the tube.

The end at Which the batting or stuifing material is fed into the tool is provided with a funnel member Which facilitates this opcration, although the funnel is not strictly essential since the operation is continuous and requires only one insertion of the stuffing material into the tube for a plurality of upholstering jobs. he funnel therefore might be provided in the form of a separable member Which may be removed immediately after it has accomplished its purpose, but- I have illustrated and described a construction Wherein the funnel is pern'ianently carried by the body of the tool. In this case the free edge of the funnel is linished With a Wire rim Which blunts this edge and also serves as a means for retaining the funnel in its proper shape.

Another important feature of the invention is that the Wire rim is formed With a loop by Which the corresponding end of the device is suspended When in use.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following description and in the accompany- -mg drawing, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section.

Reference to these views Will now be made by use of like characters Which are einployed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The nuineral l indicatcs a tubular structure preferably formed of a sheet of metal bent into shape as illustrated, Whereby it acquires a spring-like character. The edges 2 and 3 are brought into spaced relation with each other and are then bentlback upon' themselves as at l to avoid cutting edges' accessible from the interior of the structure. The ridges formed by the overlapped edges may be conccaled by solder or in any other suitable manner, Whereby to provide a linished appearance to the article. i

The space or slot 5 retained between the edges 2 and 3 increases in width from one end of the device to the other. At the Wider end recesses 6 are cut in the edges and a notch or opening 7 is also cut in the portion of metal directly beneath the cavity formed by the recesses 6.

To the other end of the sleeve or tube is' secured the smaller end of a funnel shaped member 8 formed in a manner similar to that described in connection With the body of the device and having its slot 9 in alignment With the space 5 and similarly finished at the edges. Finally the remaining or Wider end of the member 8 is finished for the blunting of the sharp edge by application of a Wire 10 thereto, and this Wire is formed With a loop 11 extending upwardly from the slot 9 Whereby the device may be suspended With the slot uppermost. y

In the use of the device, the material to be Stuifed into the upholstery is inserted in the tool in the form of a strip Which may be substantially circular in cross section or otherwise shaped. The delivery en'd of the tube, namely that end having the recesses 6 and 7, is compressed by the hand of the operator Whereby it is rendered more easy insertable into the envelope to be stuffed. Due to the fact that the slot 5 is Wider at the delivery end, a greater compression is possible "r in at this end than at the other end, Whereby the device compressed as described has a tapered formation, increasing in cross sectional area from the delivery end to the other end. This configuration aids in the operation of passing the device from the entrance end to the remaining end of the envelope, after the compressed end of the tool has been inserted into the entrance end of the envelope.

After the delivery Iend of the tool has reached the rear end of the en-velope, namely that end opposite the entrance end, the stufiing in the tool is grippcd by application of a suitable device, or the fingers of the operator, to the outside of the envelope and in alignm'ent With the recesses 6 and 7. Thus, the material constituting the envelope is pressed lirmly against the stufling material at opposite sides of the latter, independently of the tool itself, Whereby the tool may be Withdrawn from the envelope and the stuffing material retained in the envelope. After the tool has been Withdrawn from the envelope the stufling material retained in the envelope is severed, and the san/ie operations are repeated in the next envelope to be filled.

The invention provides a stuling tool which is exceedingly simple in construction, as Well as efficient in operation, since it compriscs substantially a single sheet of metal bent to form a collapsible structure and not requiring any special operation for the formation of the longitudinal slot.

Although a'specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described,

their length to form a longitudinal slot, the

space between the edges increasingin width froml one end to the other.

3. An upholstery lling device comprising a sheet of spring material bent to form a substantially tubular member having its edges spaced from one another throughout their length to form a longitudinal slot, said edges being blunted.

4. An upholstery filling device comprising' a sheet of spring material bent to form a substantially tubular member having its edges spaced from one another to form a longitudinal slot, the space between the edges increasing in width from one end to the other, a funnel applied to the other end of said member, and a Wire secure'd to the rim of said funnel and formed With a loop at said slot.

ln testimony Whereof I aiiix my signature.

CHRISTOPHER F. COD-A. 

